Sonia Cole's remarkable journey began when she escaped to the United States during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, leading her to write a letter to President Reagan, which ultimately resulted in an invitation to the Oval Office to discuss the conflicts in that war-torn country.
As a member of the Board of the Afghanistan Relief Committee, a organization founded by former U.S. Ambassadors to Afghanistan, Sonia's human rights activism commenced. She was tasked with organizing a major fund-raising event, which garnered the support of then Vice President George H.W. Bush, who served as the Honorary Chairman of her inaugural fund-raising event, "A Night for Afghanistan".
Sonia's tireless efforts were soon recognized with a Peace Medal at the United Nations, followed by a Congressional Recognition award on December 4, 2006, the Afghan American Sisterhood Award, and the UN Women Together Award on June 7, 2012.
In 2013, she received the Freedom to Write Award from PEN Center USA, solidifying her reputation as a champion of human rights. Her documentary "The Breadwinner", completed in 2007, earned her an award, and her subsequent film "Black Tulip", which she directed, produced, and wrote, was based on true events and tells the story of tragedy, struggle, and hope in the face of the current plight of the Afghan people.
The film, which was the official Afghan submission to the 2011 Academy Awards, has garnered numerous accolades, receiving top honors at over 11 film festivals, and was featured on prominent news outlets such as CBS, NBC, ABC, the New York Times, Reuters, Voice of America, and many more.
In the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy and the international US-led coalition response, Sonia recognized the need to give voice to the voiceless people of Afghanistan, leading her to establish the Afghanistan World Foundation in May 2002. Through this organization, she has raised significant funds to aid the building of hospitals and schools, further solidifying her commitment to the Afghan people.
